Robert 'Ace' Ellison

Robert C. ‘Ace’ Ellison, 77, passed away Wednesday, November 15, 2023, in the Donnell Hospice House in Washington, PA.

Ace was born August 16, 1946, in Wheeling, WV, son of the late Ray and Jackie (Lane) Ellison. He was also preceded in death by his brother Dan.

Ace graduated from Wellsburg High School in 1964 and joined the US Army where he served from 1966-1968. While in the Army he was paratrooper with the 101st Airborne and later became a code breaker all during the Vietnam era.

He later received a bachelor’s degree from West Liberty College in 1972 and landed his first teaching job at Brooke High School in 1975. Ace left Brooke for Toronto High School in 1979 and stayed until his retirement from Toronto City Schools in 2008.

Ace had a love for the game of basketball, both as a player and later as a coach. His playing career started at Wellsburg High School and continued with the Army basketball team. After being honorably discharged from the Army, he played semi-pro ball on a travel team up and down the east coast. His playing career was cut short due to a leg injury as a result of a motorcycle accident.

Ace began his coaching career as the JV basketball coach at Brooke from 1975-1979 where he was also an assistant cross-country coach. He became the head coach for the Toronto Red Knights in 1979 and had the job until 1986. Ace picked up the coaching bug again in the mid 1990’s becoming the freshman boy’s coach. He led the 1999-2000 freshman to their first and only undefeated season. When Ace wasn’t coaching the boys, he could often be found in the gym helping the girls’ program.

When school was out for the summer Ace would spend his summer months in Oklahoma hunting and fishing on his great-grandmother’s property. She was full blooded Cherokee Choctaw, and he was always proud of his Native American heritage.

Ace leaves behind his two children, Kyle Ellison of Waynesburg, PA, and Kelsey (Scotty) Roman of Toronto; his four grandchildren and one on the way, who referred to him affectionately as ‘Pappy Ace’, Kaedyn, Karson, Kale Ellison and Kaygen Roman.

Visitation will be held on Sunday from 2 pm to 5 pm at the J.E. Foster Funeral Home in Toronto. Ace’s funeral service will follow at 5 pm. Pastor Tom Klaserner will officiate, and Military Honors will be presented by the Toronto American Legion Honor Guard. www.jefosterfh.com